TIMOTHY AGBOR,OSOGBO
FORMER Governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and a former Vice-Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin Universitiy, Akungba-akoko, Ondo State, Femi Mimiko, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to consider devolution of the Federal Government’s powers to the federating states.
Specifically, Oyinlola canvassed for the amendment of the nation’s constitution to pave the way for true federalism that would ensure that states take total control of their territories.
The duo spoke in Osogbo at the maiden edition of guest platform, a quarterly programme of the Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists on Wednesday. The theme of the programme was “Appraisal Of State Of Security In Nigeria, Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow; The Way Forward.”
The former governor said the current constitution as being operated in the country could not guarantee security of citizens and economic development of the country.
He described the country’s security situation as appalling so much that the government was lost in thought on how to proffer solution to it. He argued that once states were in total control of their territories, insecurity, economic and other challenges facing the nation would be tackled.
According to the former military administrator, Buhari’s military background is not helping him do well in a civil government.
Also speaking, Mimiko, who was on the show as the guest speaker, said it was obvious that the country was overwhelmed by myriads of security challenges, adding that there was no will power by the government to tackle it.
The ex-VC advocated for the restructuring of Nigeria, noting that it was a panacea to the nation’s challenges. He said it was obvious that majority of elites who had benefited immensely in the country had withdrawn their support from the current government at the centre.
He said there was a need for devolution of power to the federating units, arguing that so much power was deposited to the central government.
“I believe strongly that restructuring will rescue Nigeria from these litany of woes. We need true Federalism. We need State policing. We need to take the exclusive list, trim it down to only things that the Federal Government has capacities to do. Let others go to the federating units.
“This is part of why Secession agitations will not go. The argument that Nigeria is not divisible has no basis in history,” he said.
Mimiko noted that there was lack of trust between the government and the governed.
In a remark, the Orangun of Oke-ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, called for an urgent solution the security challenges to sustain the nation’s unity in diversity.
Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman, Nigeria union of journalists, Osun State Council, Wasiu Ajadosu, said the concern of journalists towards emplacing a secure Nigeria necessitated the theme of the lecture.
